"I Remember... "

" I remember your making many lovely things and the
handmade gifts you have given me over the years,
starting with a patchwork pillow with a yellow ruffle."


This is the memory I pulled from my little jar a few days
ago.  My sister made a "Memory Jar" for me this past
Christmas and each day I pull a typewritten memory
slip from it.  I have had such fun doing this and reflecting
on the things she has written.


As I read this I could remember that humble little patchwork
pillow, probably one of my first real attempts at sewing.
My mother and sister were very accomplished seamstresses
and I remember wanting to make something for my sister for
Christmas.  


As I recall Mother pulled scraps of fabric from
her scrap basket (many of which were from clothing she had
made us) and let me pick and choose.  There were cottons,
satins and taffeta pieces to select from and I recall using
some of each type of fabric.  If memory serves me correctly,
I was given a little 4 or 5 inch square of paper to pin to
the fabric as my pattern.  Then I cut out each individual
square.  The squares were then laid out on the living room
floor, pinned together and sewn on Mother's sewing machine.


Next came the hardest part:  making the ruffle to go around
the pillow.  But with help and encouragement it was made, 
pinned and sewn around the pillow.  The backing, yellow like
the ruffle, was pinned to the pillow top, sewn, turned and
the pillow was then stuffed.


I remember how proud I was of this pillow.  In my child's
eyesight it was just perfect!  However, I'm sure it was not
square or the blocks even. 


I must have made two of them at the same time because I
also had one that I kept for many years.  I searched diligently
for it after reading this memory, but I think I discarded it
sometime ago.  Now I wish I had taken a picture of it.


However, while looking for it I looked in my cedar chest
and while it was not there, I pulled up this beautiful hand
pieced pillow top Emily Coleman had made me many,
many years ago.

   
















She was a dear family friend and neighbor and lived in the most

charming "Gingerbread" house that was surrounded by huge

old pine trees.  I was often invited to her house to play when

grandchildren came to visit.  I had always admired these pillows

she made from scraps of velvet, satin and taffeta and wanted

one in the worst way.  I finally convinced her to make me one

and that I would take "good care of it."  It was probably one of

the last she made as she was in her 80's and her eyesight was

failing her.

I've tried to snap a close up so one can see her intricate embroidery

and stitching.  Each scrap of fabric was stitched together on a

cotton fabric foundation.  The top and back are also stitched

together by hand.

This is truly a treasure and one I'm glad I have carefully saved.

I wish my first efforts and quilting or piecing had been saved as

I was probably about 9 or 10 years old when I made my sister

her pillow.  But, I'm thrilled to know she has kept it and

treasured it all these many years.

I'm grateful that my perseverance in learning to sew paid off

because piecing and quilting is one of my greatest joys! 

This morning since it was and is snowing still, went to my 

sewing room and completed my First Saturday BOM piece.

Now, I can relax and do the fun things without the pressure

of getting the block sewn.